Plate or shape and structure composed thereof



July 7, 1925. 1,545.124

' E. R. CALTHROP PLATE OR SHAPE AND STRUCTURE COMPOSED THEREOF Filed May 9 1923 4 Sheets-Shget 1 v Jul 7, 1925.

E. R. CALTHROP PLATE OR SHAPE AND STRUCTURE COMPOSED THEREOF 4 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1923 lNVENTO/P AW'Ja/mm July 7, 1925. 1.545.124

E. R. CALTHROP PLATE OR SHAPE AN!) STRUCTURE GOMPOSED THEREOF Fil d May 9 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 5' llVVE/VTOR Jul 7, 1925. 1,545,524

E. R. CALTHROP PLATE OR SHAPE AND STRUCTURE COMPOSED THEREOF Filed May 9. .1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 7, 1925.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFZCE.

EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

PLATE OR SHAPE AND STRUCTURE COMPOSED THEREOF.

Application filed May 9, 1923. Serial No. 637,865.

tures Composed Thereof, of which the fol-.

lowing is a specification.

This inventlon refers to plates or shapes and structures composed thereof and relates more particularly although not exclusively to metallic reinforcing elements for use in the construction of reinforced concrete structures the elements being of the kind in which the edges which constitute the vertical edges when the elements are in position are so curved or bent that when a number are arranged vertically in position the edges of adjacent or juxtaposed elements overlap so as to enable the several elements to be bolted or otherwise secured together to form a metallic skeleton.

The primary object of my invention is to provide improved metallic reinforcing elements which will fit exactly in juxtaposition without cutting or dressing by hand and will becapable of being erected rapidly to form a metallic skeleton to or around which 0011- crete or the like may be applied or-poured or cast in any appropriate manner.

In its broadest aspect my invention may be said tobe embodied-in a metallic reinforcing element for use in the construction of reinforced concrete or similar structures consisting of a rectangular metallic sheet either reticulated or not the two edges of which-when the sheet is in position in the structure constitute the vertical edges are curved or angled either in the same direction or in opposite directions relatively to one face of the sheet while the othertwo or horizontal edges of the sheet are bent at an angle eitherin the same direction or in opposite directions relatively to one face of the sheet the vertical edges of juxtaposed elements overlapping when a number are arranged in position so as to enable the several elements to be bolted or otherwise secured together toform a metallic skeleton comprismg a plurality of polyangular cells.

. In order to-obtainvthe necessary overlap curved or angled portions of adjoining plates make a butt-joint with one another and thus register vertically with great accuracy. A further register for equalizing the vertical heights of all the plates in a first and subsequent tiers may be presented by incising the corners of the metallic sheets to a given depth as will presently appear when the detailed description of my invention is considered.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and carried into practice by those familiar with the art to which it appertains I will now proceed to describe same in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating diagrammatically one form of metallic reinforcing element.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another form of reinforcing element. I

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a further modified construction of element.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the corner of a cell of an hexagonal cellular structure illustrating three of the elements shown in Figures 2 and 3 in juxtaposed relation.

Fig. 5 is a similar view in which the constructional form of element illustrated in Fig. l is employed and V Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing a part of an hexagonal structure composed of the metallicreinforcing elements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is adiagrammatic view showing a part of an hexagonal structure composed of the metallic reinforcing elements shown in Figures 2 and 3.

Fig. 8 illustrates the preferred construction of element when employed for reinforced concrete structures that is to say while it possessses all the characteristics of the elements shown in Figures 1 to 8 it is composed of reticulated or the now wellknown expanded metal the better to become interknitted with the concrete in the intended structure.

Figs. 9,10 and 11 are detail views hereinafter more particularly referred to.

Referring to the drawings a; is the metallic reinforcing element the edges 5 of wh chwhen the element is placed in position in .a structureconstitute the vertical edges are curved either in the same direction relatively to one face of the element as shown in Figure for in opposite directions as,

shown in Figures 2 and 3. The two horizontal edges are bent at an angle relatively to one face of the element either in the same direction as illustrated in Figure 1 or in opposite directions as shown in Figures 2 and 3 but it will be observed that in Figure 3 the horizontal edges are illustrated as be ing cut or slit so as to form a number of portions d which arebent alternately in op posite directions for a purpose which will ments as they are superimposed one on the other during erection.

In that aspect of the invention herein particularly disclosed the elements are shown and described as being intended for the erection of an hexagonal cellular struck ture but it is manifest that the invention is not limited thereto as with slight modification of the elements not affecting the invention elements may be constructed suitable for the erection of polyangular cellular structures other than those composed of hexagonal cells. Now it will be seen that when a plurality of elements as hereinbefore described are assembled vertically injuxtaposed relation the curved edges Z; of the several elements will make a butt joint one with the other as illustrated in the diagrams of Figures 6 and 7 and may be bolted or otherwise secured together to form a tier of hexagonal cells-the vertical edges registering with great accuracy as clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. Thus a metallic skeleton consisting of a tier of hexagonal cells may be formed as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and any de sired number of superimposed tiers of cells may be erected upon the first tier by seating the lower off-set portions 0 of the superimposed elements upon the upper oif-set portions 0 of the first tier of elements and boltmg or otherwise securing them in position. Accurate registration of the superimposed elements with those of the tier below is ensured by the incisions e as shown in Figure 5 while the construction of Figure 3 is especlallyndvantageous where the intended structure is required to possess considerable strength as the opposed off-set portions d form what may be termed a saddle to rece ve and interlock with similarly formed portions on the superimposed elements.

In cases where the metallic skeleton so far described is to be embedded in QQIlGletP,

or the like appropriate shuttering may be applied to both sides of the metallic walls of the cells and concrete poured to embed the metal or the concrete may be applied by means of the now well known cement gun.

Reinforcing elements in accordance with the present invention may be made of standard sizes and thickness and will fit snugly one within another in a comparatively small space and may be transported from place to place without danger of their becoming buckled or deformed. Arrived at a placeof erection on levelled ground they may without the use of skilled labor be placed rapidly in position and built up oneon the other to form a skeleton of reinforcement of the desired strength configuration and size in truly horizontal and preferably parallel tiers.

It may in certain types of structure be desirable that the bottoms of the cells should be closed by metallic plates or sheets and in such cases I may employ the sheets shown in Fig. 9 which it will be seen are substantially hexagonal in shape and may be made from a single sheet or a pair of sheets three of the sides being provided with upturned flanges f to which the off-set portions 0 of the reinforcing elements a may be bolted as clearly illustrated in the sectioned View of Fig. 10. In Figure 11 I have shown'three plates 9, lb and z each having an upturned flange f at oneextremity so that when arranged as shown in this figure substantially the sameresult is obtained as with the metallic sheet illustrated in Figure 9.

It will be understood that while I have in the foregoing description referred to the improved elements as being particularly adapted for use in the erection of reinforced concrete structures it will be obvious that they may be employed in the erection of structures which are entirely of metal such for example as aerial structures lighthouses or signal stations in which cases it will be manifest that the elements instead of being of reticulated metal will be of plain metal sheets of the requisite stability to ensure the strength of the completed structure.

The reinforcing elements may advantageously be employed in the construction of reinforced concrete walls floors ceilingspartitions girders and the like.

While I have described my invention as applied to reinforcing elements for the erection of hexagonal cells it will be apparent that by forming the edges 1) of appropriate curvature or angles elements may be produced suitable for the erection of cells of other shape than hexagonal.

What I claim is:-

1. A reinforcing element consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal the two edges of which-when the sheet is in position on the structure constitute the vertical edges-are curved relatively to one face of the sheet while the horizontal edges of the sheet are bent at an angle relatively to one face of the sheet the Vertical edges of juxtaposed elements overlapping when a number are arranged in position so as to enable the several elements to be secured together to form a metallic skeleton comprising a plurality of polyangular cells the said vertical edges being cut short as to their horizontal edges by so much of the total width of the sheet as will allow of the overlap required on the horizontal edges.

2. A reinforcing element consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal the two edges of whichwhen the sheet is in position on the structure constitute the vertical edgesare curved relatively to one face of the sheet while the horizontal edges of the sheet are bent at an angle relatively to one face of the sheet the vertical edges of juxtaposed elements overlapping when a number are arranged in position so as to enable the several elements to be secured together to form a metallic skeleton comprising a plurality of polyangular cells the corners of the metallic sheets being provided with incisions for equalizing the vertical heights of all the elements in a first and subsequent tier.

3. A rein-forcing element consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal the two edges of which-when the sheet is in position on the structure constitute the vertical edges-are curved relatively to one face of the sheet while the horizontal edges of the sheet are bent at an angle relatively to one face of the sheet the vertical edges of juxtaposed elements overlapping when a number are arranged in position so as to enable the several elements to be secured together to form a metallic skeleton comprising a plurality of polyangular cells the horizontal edges of the sheet being cut so as to form a series of offset portions.

4. A reinforcing element consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal the two edges of which-when the sheet is in position on the structure constitute the vertical edgesare curved relatively to one face of the sheet while the horizontal edges are cut to form a series of portions which are off-set alternately to opposite sides of said sheet.

5. A reinforcing element consisting of a rectangular sheet of metal the two edges of which-when the sheet is in position on the structure constitute the vertical edgesare curved in opposite directions relatively to one face of the sheet while the horizontal edges of the sheet are cut to form a series of portions which are offset alternately to opposite sides of said sheet.

EVERARD RICHARD CALTHROP. 

